Seasonal
influenza is a serious illness that each year kills about
36,000 Americans and sends more than 200,000 to the
hospital. Complications of seasonal flu can include
bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections,
dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions,
such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to
protect yourself and your family from seasonal flu. We
strongly urge everyone to get a seasonal flu shot as a way
to minimize illness in our community. Call your health
care provider for more information.

To get seasonal flu vaccine, you can:

Watch for
announcements of
flu vaccine
offered at your
local grocery
store or
pharmacy

Contact your
health care
providers

Contact your
local pharmacy

Who should get the seasonal flu
vaccine:

Health officials encourage everyone who is at least 6
months of age to get a flu vaccine this season. Itís
especially important for some people to get vaccinated.
Those people include:

People who are at high risk of developing serious
complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the
flu including:

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People who have certain medical conditions
like asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

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Pregnant women.

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People 65 years and older.

People who live with or care for others who
are high risk of developing serious complications
including:

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household contacts and caregivers of people
with certain medical conditions including
asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

How do you prevent Influenza?

Cover your mouth and nose.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or with a tissue. Dispose of tissue in the nearest waste receptacle.
If you cough or sneeze into your hands, you risk the
spreading disease when you touch surface that others
come in contact with.

Wash your hands often with soap and water.
The key is to
wash thoroughly with warm water, and to wash frequently.
When hand washing is not possible, use antiseptic hand gels
that contain alcohol.

Stay home if you are sick. If
you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at
least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get
medical care or other necessities. (Your fever
should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing
medicine). Keep away from others as much as
possible to prevent spreading illness.